diminish attention

USAGE SUMMARY

"diminish attention" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a decrease or lessening of attention. For example: "As I aged, my attention span began to diminish, making it hard to stay focused."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The byelection date was announced this morning, timed to diminish attention in Scotland on David Cameron's speech today to the Tory annual conference.

The Guardian

The "right way" may increase cognitive load and so diminish attention to goals.

Smart Learning Environments

Truancy rates diminish, attention spans improve, reading skills escalate and children mature.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The ad counteracts diminished attention spans, Mr. Berman said.

The New York Times

"We all have diminished attention spans," he said.

The New York Times

The problem of diminishing attention spans has long affected the adult classical world as well.

The New York Times - Arts

Some observers say changing tastes and diminishing attention spans have been bad for the elaborate art form.

Independent

The shrinking of budgets at news outlets across the country means that many atrocities in far corners of the globe receive diminished attention.

The New York Times - Arts

Moss doles out chapters to all the participants, epistolary fashion, albeit with a diminishing attention span that shortchanges those relegated to the book's bleak final stretch.

The New York Times - Books

"Television is so timorous and terrified of losing viewers that it serves up stuff faster and faster because of people's supposedly diminishing attention spans and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy".

The Guardian

The report, from the academy's Institute of Medicine, said, "Long work hours pose one of the most serious threats to patient safety, because fatigue slows reaction time, decreases energy, diminishes attention to detail, and otherwise contributes to errors".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "diminish attention" when you want to express a deliberate or unintentional reduction in focus on a particular subject. It's suitable for formal and neutral contexts.

Common error

While "diminish attention" is correct, consider whether a more direct and active verb might be more impactful in your writing. For example, instead of "the new policy diminished attention to environmental concerns", try "the new policy sidelined environmental concerns".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "diminish attention" functions primarily as a verb phrase where "diminish" acts as a transitive verb taking "attention" as its object. It describes the action of reducing or lessening focus, as supported by Ludwig AI's assessment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "diminish attention" is a grammatically sound phrase that describes a reduction in focus or awareness. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not a very common expression, with limited examples found in the search data, it is appropriate in formal and neutral contexts such as news articles and scientific writings. For more casual settings, consider alternative phrases like "reduce focus" or "divert attention".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce focus

Emphasizes a decrease in concentration.

lessen focus

Similar to reduce focus, but implies a smaller degree of reduction.

divert attention

Highlights the act of shifting focus away from something.

draw attention away

Similar to divert attention, with emphasis on the act of displacement.

weaken focus

Suggests making attention less intense.

blur the focus

Implies making attention less clear or distinct.

fade attention

Suggests a gradual decrease in focus over time.

attenuate attention

A more formal way of saying reduce attention.

curtail attention

Focuses on limiting the amount of focus given.

impair focus

Indicates damage or hindrance to the ability to focus.

FAQs

How can I use "diminish attention" in a sentence?

You can use "diminish attention" to describe how something reduces focus or awareness, as in "The loud music diminished her attention to the lecture".

What are some alternatives to "diminish attention"?

You can use alternatives like "reduce focus", "divert attention", or "lessen focus" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "diminish attention" or "reduce attention"?

Both "diminish attention" and "reduce attention" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the desired tone; "diminish" can sound slightly more formal.

In what contexts is "diminish attention" most appropriate?

"Diminish attention" is suitable for formal and neutral contexts, such as academic papers, news articles, or professional reports. For more casual settings, alternatives like "lose focus" or "get distracted" might be more appropriate.